INDIALANTIC, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting, which has left one man dead and the deputy seriously injured.

The shooting incident happened around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night, near State Road A1A in Indialantic. Investigators said it started as an altercation betwen neighbors over the feeding feral cats.

"I wanted to go by the hospital and visit with our deputy and talk to him for just a second. I'm going to start this press conference off with exactly what he told me, and that is 'I won.'" said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, during an early morning statement.

Sheriff Ivey said the deputy, who was not immediately identified, responded to a residence where the disturbance was taking place. As the deputy arrived, the sheriff said he could see an altercation was taking place between neighbors.

"He asked one of the neighbors to go back to his house, so he could talk to the second neighbor who seemed to be extremely agitated. As our deputy was trying to talk to him, his agitation was very evident, he was starting to act like he was rolling up his pants, mumbling like he was trying to engage our deputy," the sheriff explained. "At one point, he goes behind a vehicle that's parked nearby, and our deputy, who is an Army veteran, heard the very distinct sound of a rifle being charged."

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Sheriff Ivey said the individual came around the corner and there was an exchange of gunfire. He said the deputy was able to get off several rounds through a "tactical retreat" to try to take cover.

"The gunfire lasted long enough for our deputy to expend all of the rounds in his magazine, reload, and re-engage the suspect," said Ivey. "At one point, the suspect was shot and went back where our deputy lost sight of him. Our deputy actually collapsed. The neighbor pulled our deputy into the driveway, where he could have some cover."

Other deputies responded and determined that the suspect in the shooting had succumbed to gunshot wounds. The deputy was transported the hospital in serious, but stable, condition after being shot multiple times, the sheriff said.

"I could not be more proud of our deputy for his actions, for his tactical preparedness, and his ability to withstand someone shooting at him with a rifle and being able to be where he is right now, with his family and being prepared for surgery," Ivey added.

The name of the suspect is being withheld while investigators continue to gather evidence.

"We tell our community all the time that sometimes going on disturbances or domestics is one of the most dangerous parts of our team's job, and we're thankful that our deputy and other team members are safe. I will tell you that, as I look at this, it is just an absolute -- the message is very clear here: if you point a gun at one of our deputies, you just selected on MapQuest one of these locations for yourself: the hospital, the morgue, or...if you're really lucky, you're going to the hospital and to jail."

The investigation is ongoing. Check back with FOX 35 News for updates.